https://www.rferl.org/z/23337 RFE/RL's latest news, features, commentary, and multimedia content on Lebanon, Israel, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iraq. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/23337 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Wed, 13 May 2026 22:19:39 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL The conflict involving Iran is revealing new lessons about how artificial intelligence is being weaponized in modern warfare and statecraft. https://www.rferl.org/a/lego-hip-hop-deepfakes-iran-ai-propaganda/33756098.html https://www.rferl.org/a/lego-hip-hop-deepfakes-iran-ai-propaganda/33756098.html Wed, 13 May 2026 17:14:34 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Power has become increasingly decentralized in Iran following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the selection of his son as the new supreme leader. So, who holds power in the Islamic republic now? https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-irgc-khamenei-qalibaf/33756085.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-irgc-khamenei-qalibaf/33756085.html Wed, 13 May 2026 16:37:57 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The latest exchange between Washington and Tehran over a proposed path toward de-escalation has raised new questions about what comes next in the growing crisis around the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-talks-markets-diplomacy/33754690.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-talks-markets-diplomacy/33754690.html Tue, 12 May 2026 01:08:04 +0200 News AnalysisIranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iranian outlets with ties to the IRGC have floated the idea that Tehran assert control over undersea fiber-optic cables running under the Strait of Hormuz. Experts say the proposal has little legal merit but warn that Iranian sabotage remains a threat. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-undersea-cable-hormuz-toll-internet/33754408.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-undersea-cable-hormuz-toll-internet/33754408.html Mon, 11 May 2026 14:49:50 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Former senior US diplomat Gordon Gray, who served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs under President George W. Bush, says indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran are likely to continue despite what he described as significant pain and pressure on both sides. https://www.rferl.org/a/ambassador-gray-iran-trump-negotiations-diplomacy/33754183.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ambassador-gray-iran-trump-negotiations-diplomacy/33754183.html Mon, 11 May 2026 09:52:53 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East US President Donald Trump described the cease-fire with Iran as being on "life support," adding he is considering restarting naval escorts -- dubbed Operation Enduring Freedom -- through the Strait of Hormuz amid a continuing a deadlock over how to bring the conflict to an end. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-response-peace-proposal-unacceptable/33753884.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-response-peace-proposal-unacceptable/33753884.html Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:37 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Iran’s currency has fallen to a new record low against the US dollar as the two-month-long conflict rattles the country’s already battered economy. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-economy-blockade-war/33746016.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-economy-blockade-war/33746016.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:56:58 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Weeks of US and Israeli air strikes, sanctions, and restrictions have hit Iran hard, but it could be geology that eventually pushes it into making concessions in its ongoing standoff with the United States. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-oil-sector-blockade-tehran/33745206.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-oil-sector-blockade-tehran/33745206.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:23:43 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesIranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The unity that Iran’s rival political camps maintained through 40 days of US and Israeli strikes is fracturing over negotiations to end the war. The real divide, experts say, is not necessarily about whether to talk but rather when. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-politics-divide-us-israeli-war-/33745286.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-politics-divide-us-israeli-war-/33745286.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:20:12 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East RFE/RL spoke with former US Central Command (CENTCOM) communications director, retired US Army Colonel Joe Buccino, on April 27 to discuss the escalating situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the strategic "staring contest" between Washington and Tehran that is now defining the region. https://www.rferl.org/a/centcom-buccino-iran-us-strategic-staring-contest-hormuz/33744184.html https://www.rferl.org/a/centcom-buccino-iran-us-strategic-staring-contest-hormuz/33744184.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:45:45 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The United States will send a delegation to Pakistan this weekend for a new round of talks with Iranian officials, the White House said, as Washington tests whether a fragile cease-fire can translate into diplomatic progress. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-talks-diplomacy--blockade-nuclear/33741895.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-talks-diplomacy--blockade-nuclear/33741895.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:21:06 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East While officials in Tehran have long emphasized self-reliance, experts say battlefield evidence points to a far more interconnected war effort, reflecting deepening partnerships that have helped Iran replenish its military, improve targeting, and blunt Western operations during the conflict. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-russia-china-war-cooperation-support/33741900.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-russia-china-war-cooperation-support/33741900.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:52:17 +0200 IranFeaturesRussiaThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle EastChina President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Saudi Arabia for security talks, marking his second visit to the region since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, now under cease-fire, as Russia continued to pound Ukraine with deadly strikes. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-saudi-arabia-iran-drone-attacks-odesa/33741811.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-saudi-arabia-iran-drone-attacks-odesa/33741811.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:45:08 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Hundreds of Afghan refugees remain in limbo at the As-Sayliyah camp in Qatar awaiting information about the countries they may be transferred to after a US State Department deadline to move them passed last month. https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-refugees-qatar-relocation-deadline-passes/33737179.html https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-refugees-qatar-relocation-deadline-passes/33737179.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:34:13 +0200 AfghanistanFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East With a cease-fire in the US-Israeli war on Iran due to expire on April 22, US actions at sea are drawing renewed attention to a central issue: How deeply Iran’s military establishment is embedded in the country’s economy. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-irgc-ships-economy-entreched-shadow/33736577.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-irgc-ships-economy-entreched-shadow/33736577.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:01:14 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The prospects for a new round of face-to-face peace talks between the United States and Iran remained unclear amid confusion over the US negotiators' plans and uncertainty over whether Tehran would agree to take part. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-cargo-ship-seized-pakistan-ceasefire-negotiations/33735754.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-cargo-ship-seized-pakistan-ceasefire-negotiations/33735754.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:01:14 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iran said it has opened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping traffic for the reamiiner of a 10-day cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon, and US President Donald Trump again suggested that Washington and Tehran could reach a deal to end the US-Israeli war with Iran in the near future. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-israel-lebanon-hormuz/33734636.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-israel-lebanon-hormuz/33734636.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:33:06 +0200 NewsIranMiddle East A senior Republican lawmaker has raised concerns over continued US-origin components appearing in Russian weapon systems amid Ukrainian reports that recent drone strikes show evidence of Western microelectronics manufactured as recently as 2025. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-lawmaker-wilson-flags-western-chips-russian-iranian-drones/33734451.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-lawmaker-wilson-flags-western-chips-russian-iranian-drones/33734451.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:58:52 +0200 IranNewsFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Despite suffering significant losses, Iran believes it is winning the war against the United States and Israel. That view is shaping Tehran’s conduct in the conflict and its demands in peace talks. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-victory/33733726.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-victory/33733726.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:29:02 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East US President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran are "very close" to a deal to end the war and that US and Iranian negotiators could meet for a second round of talks this coming weekend. https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-lebanon-leadership-talks-peace/33733502.html https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-lebanon-leadership-talks-peace/33733502.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:28:37 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East